Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Shares Sold by Sarasin & Partners LLP

Sarasin & Partners LLP reduced its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 60.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 161,885 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 250,827 shares during the period. Sarasin & Partners LLP’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $26,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of MRSH. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,589,633 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $8,643,309,000 after buying an additional 387,100 shares during the period. State Street Corp bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at $4,057,682,000. Capital International Investors bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth $3,482,557,000. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $3,140,284,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $2,967,927,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of MRSH opened at $193.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $92.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.59. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $156.60 and a 12 month high of $213.80. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $174.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The business had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 48.41%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total value of $2,107,800.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 12,001 shares in the company, valued at $2,107,975.65. The trade was a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MRSH shares. Bank of America decreased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $181.00 to $174.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Weiss Ratings cut Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $201.94.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.